Case Background
Dr. Ann Smith, the sole physician in rural Appalachia, sees 25 patients daily and manages diverse conditions with paper records. She is weighing the adoption of electronic health records but worries about costs, training, and staff adaptation. Her small team includes a part-time office manager and three nurses, most of whom are older and from the previous practice. Dr. Smith’s adoption of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in her small rural Appalachian clinic has the potential to greatly enhance productivity, patient care, and data management. This paper will cover the initial actions Dr. Smith should take to adopt and install an EHR system and how to address the practice’s needs, carry out research, and develop an implementation strategy.
First Steps Toward Adopting and Implementing an EHR
Any healthcare practice that implements an EHR system has undergone a significant transformation. Therefore, it is crucial to address any emerging worries and difficulties (Santo et al., 2021). The learning curve required to implement an EHR system, which requires getting used to a new way of managing operations and recording patient data, may be a legitimate issue for Dr. Smith’s team.
Assessing the practice’s needs, the requirements for her practice include capacity for patient records, billing and insurance claims management, appointment scheduling, and medication management. Dr. Smith should have conducted thorough research on the available EHR systems. Factors such as cost, ease of use, scalability, and compatibility with existing systems are important to consider.
Once an EHR system is selected, Dr. Smith should create a comprehensive implementation plan. This plan should outline the timeline, budget, staff roles and responsibilities, and necessary hardware and software requirements (Salleh et al.,2021). Dr. Smith should also involve her staff in the decision-making process and communicate the benefits of EHR adoption.
Incorporating Training
Considering Dr. Smith’s busy schedule, finding efficient ways to incorporate EHR training is crucial. Many EHR vendors offer online training modules and resources that can be accessed anytime. Dr. Smith can allocate specific time slots during the week for self-paced training, allowing her to learn at her convenience.
Dr. Smith can connect with other physicians who have successfully implemented EHR systems. Through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and guidance, experienced practitioners can offer practical insights and share best practices (Shi et al., 2020). Dr. Smith can train her staff by organizing group sessions or workshops. The staff members can support and reinforce each other’s learning.
Addressing Staff Concerns
Employees may have worries when a healthcare facility adopts an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Staff employees must learn and adjust to a new method of managing processes and capturing patient data while implementing a new EHR system. This learning curve can be difficult and may, at first, reduce output. However, healthcare institutions frequently offer assistance and training to employees to help them adapt to the system.
The learning curve usually shortens with time, practice, and experience, and staff employees become more adept at utilizing the EHR system. The dependability of an EHR system is a legitimate worry for employees. Investment in a reliable, tried-and-true EHR system that can meet the company’s needs is essential for healthcare companies. Routine upgrades, backups, and maintenance are required to maintain system dependability.
Some employees may be concerned about the possible effects on their job security when implementing an EHR system. They could worry that automation and digitalization would result in employment role modifications or personnel layoffs. An EHR system may speed up some administrative duties and give staff employees additional opportunities to concentrate on higher-value jobs like data analysis, patient care coordination, and system improvement (Kim et al., 2019). Concerns about job security can be allayed by clear communication and transparency from management on the objectives and requirements of EHR deployment.
Conclusion
Dr. Ann Smith’s decision to adopt an EHR system in her rural Appalachian practice can significantly improve efficiency, patient care, and data management. She can navigate the challenges effectively by taking a systematic approach to the adoption process, including assessing practice needs, researching options, and involving her staff. Incorporating training into her schedule through online resources, peer learning, and collaborative sessions with staff will ensure a smooth transition. Addressing her staff’s key concerns, such as training, support, and job security, and highlighting the benefits of EHR adoption will contribute to their acceptance and engagement in the process.
References
Kim, E., Rubinstein, S. M., Nead, K. T., Wojcieszynski, A. P., Gabriel, P. E., & Warner, J. L. (2019). The evolving use of electronic health records (EHR) for research. In Seminars in Radiation Oncology, 29(4), 354-361. Web.
Salleh, M. I. M., Abdullah, R., & Zakaria, N. (2021). Evaluating the effects of electronic health records system adoption on the performance of Malaysian health care providers. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 21(1), 1-13. Web.
Santo, L., Schappert, S. M., & Ashman, J. J. (2021). Emergency Department Visits for Influenza and Pneumonia: United States, 2016-2018. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Web.
Shi, S., He, D., Li, L., Kumar, N., Khan, M. K., & Choo, K. K. R. (2020). Applications of blockchain in ensuring the security and privacy of electronic health record systems: A survey. Computers & Security, 97, 101966. Web.